KBS Lends a Helping Hand at AGCVA Richmond District Community Service Project

Posted on June 18, 2012 in News

The weekend of June 9th was a fulfilling one for KBS. Our team of volunteers, including (from left) Tina Hudson, Mark Farley, Peyton Cox, Mark Thomas, Chris Bryant, Odir Comayagua, and Sam Stocks (not pictured), took part in helping restore the Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal School (AJCES) in Richmond’s East End neighborhood. The school, which is independent and tuition-free, is for children from low-income families and has over 50 students in grades 6 through 8. The main goal of the school is to help the students “set sights on college and responsible citizenship.”

The school needs about $25,000 to $30,000 in upgrades and restorations, ranging from new flooring to new whiteboards to electrical outlet replacements. Because of the generous tuition-free education offered by AJCES, the restoration project isn’t possible without the help of donations and volunteers’ labor. The Associated General Contractors of Virginia (AGCVA) Richmond District is partnering with AJCES to repair what needs to be fixed for no cost and NBC12 reported that 50 contractors, including KBS, donated “their time, services and expertise” to help with the project. Our very own Sam Stocks is the President of AGCVA Richmond District this year.

The school, which was a preschool, received counters fit for middle school students, timed bell and intercom systems, floor repairs, new ceiling tiles, and new basketball hoops and whiteboards. Volunteers also helped raise the casework in the science and art classrooms to standard height and install new exterior lighting, along with many other renovations. These changes will make learning easier and more fun for the students. As school head Mike Maruca told NBC12, “kids will be able to do things in school that they otherwise would not be able to.” Much gratitude goes out to all of the KBS employees who took part in this volunteer effort and all of the other contractors who were able to donate and help.